Electro Rebirth (1998-2004)

I don't know what you would call this era but it was when I first started listening to the modern Electro that was being released.

It was mainly through a lot of the Groovetech Radio's shows that introduced me to so much new music. Daily visits to hear the new shows from Orson Bramley's Perverted Science, Weatherall's Haywire Sessions, Sherman & Curly Electrocuted and ADJ's Pyramid Transmissions. There was so much stuff coming out you were spoilt for choice. I wish I could have kept copies of all these streamed and they released track listings.

There were a couple of popular messages boards around back then that I started visiting. This forum was obviously one and also the other that had Alliance in it's name. That place had a spilt personality when it came to its members. I never understood that Miami Bass scene and couldn't relate to many of them but through both forums there would be an influx of mixes being posted by Dr Skunkenstein, Damo, 214 and that strange Portuguese guy that kept my iPod constantly stocked.

Unfortunately I never really got to experience much of this music inside a club up in Liverpool except for the odd event and a couple of tunes that slipped into a Dave Clarke techno set. That's what I most regret about this golden period. Even at its highest peak of it's popularity it didn't reach enough people and as quickly as it appeared it felt like it was already over and dying out.

Releases became more scarce, people I followed dropped supporting Electro and replaced different genres into their mixes. I can recall many producers jumping ship on the Bastardized message board and consciously choosing making shitty dubstep instead. No doubt as thats where the money seemed to be and I can't blame them. I moved away into general electronica (Autechre) and adopting an Italo Disco addiction.

Since losing a lot of my old library I've been getting back into Electro again and revising my past through Spotify. Hunting for anything that came out during this time and trying to locate some of the seminal releases. The selection of music available is not the best but seems to be improving as more labels embrace streaming.

I'd like to know what were the important EPs and albums that some of you were enjoying whether they were absolute classics or rarer songs that flew under the radar for many. If you can help I've started putting together a playlist of music from this era that they have available.

Sooooo many 12"s and Digital releases to choose from back then. The first three releases on Dona Li (Spain) were exceptional. Boris Divider - Take My Beat is still one of my favourite Nu School Electro tracks.